Remote control apparatus



May l2, 1936. l.1. A. sr-:RRELL 2,040,447

' REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS AFiled July 31, 1929 4" Sheng/sheet 2 (D N N May 12, 1936. J.A. sERRELl. 2,040,447

REMOTE CONTROL APPAMTUSv Fi1ed Ju1y 31, 1929 v4 Sheets-Sheet 5 x4 Y F/G.6 as

of Y@ H EMM May 12, 1936- I J. A. s-ERRELL 2,040,447

REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed July s1, 1929 4 sheets-sheet 4 I a7 inve/vfat'.K Jo/m A, Serre-M l I v o y l By Patented May l2, 1936 UNITED STATES REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS John A.. Seri-ell.' Passagrille, Fla., assignor' to Warren Webster & Company, Camden, N. J.. a corporation of New Jersey Application July 31, 1929, Serial No. 382,547

4 Claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a remote control apparatus adapted to put into and out of action or move a device at a distance, such as a valve mechanism or other device for the controlling of a heating medium, which requires to be operated from a distance and preferably to a varying degree, such as would be incident to a valve mechanism in a steam heating system in which the port was opened or-closed toI varying extents, said operation being manually or automatically controlled according to requirements.

My object is further to employ electrical means which may be manually or otherwise controlled automatically for operating the distantly located valve or other movable steam controlling part to which my improvements is directed.

A useful application of my improvements is that in which one or more supply valves of a steam heating apparatus may be operated under the control of a thermostat affected by changes of temperature, a preferable form of which construction contemplates that the thermostats shall be aiected by temperature changes in Aor under the control of the 'outside atmosphere, and said improvements utilized for the purpose of adjusting the supply valves inthe mains or branches vof the heating system, .whereby more or less steam may be supplied. to the system as a whole and to the radiators t..ereof in groups, for` maintaining a predetermined temperature within the building.

With the above and other objects in view,th eV nature of which will be more fully understood from the description hereinafter, the invention consists in vthe novel construction of remote control apparatus and its application to heating purposes, as hereinafter more fully described and dened inthe claims.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a vertical section, taken onlinev I-I of Fig. 2, of a valve device to which my improvements are applied; Fig. 2 is an end view of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged front view of a portion vof the structure shown in Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a plan View of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section of the same, taken on line 5 5 oi.'4 Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the details of' the apparatus of Fig. 4, associated with the thermostatic control devices and additional electric circuits, including the electric motors; Fig. 6a and 7 are enlarged views of portions lof Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 7; Fig.- 9 is' a sectional view on line 8-9 of Fig. 7;' Fig., 10 is a sectional'fview thereof; Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic elevation showingthe application of my improvements to steam heating control;.andv Fig. l2 illustrates a .reversible electric motor.

The application ofA myimprovements will be better understood by a general reference to Fig. 11 before entering into the detail description of the special apparatus for remote control of the' supply valves. F is a source of heat supply, such as a boiler, and from which the heating medium or steamV may pass by a large main to the branch mains or risers A, A'; and the pressure and total quantity of said heating medium supplied may be regulated by a thermostatically controlled pressure reducing valve E to provide a varying pressure and quantity required, irrespective of the pressure variations atv the source of generation. 'I'he branch mains A, A',l are shown as supplying steam to .two groups of radiators B, B', thesteam being'supiplied to the radiators preferably through orifice control means H, and the water of condensation and air passing through return valves J. into the return pipes G, and thence to the boiler, in any convenient manner. The return valves J may be thermostatically operated or otherwise, for permitting passage of air and water of condensation, but restricting the passage of steam. 'I'he branch mains A, A', are respectively provided with control valve devices 2 and 2a, similar to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and l2. These valve devices are respectively controlled by means indicated at D which include the operative mechanism for the valves, 2 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive. Moreover, these valve devices may be separately controlled by thermostatic means- Il and tia, respectively,`as represented more fully inFlgs. 6, 'I and 8. Parts Il and Y88a. represent circuit controlling devices movable under the action of the respective thermostats 8|, 8|a, and controlling the electric circuits 40 indicated by the cables C, C', Vforming electrical communication between the thermostatically -controlled devices and the operative mechanism for the respective valves 2, 2a. The electric cables C, C',` include in each case circuits Il to 45 10g shown in Fig. 6, leading from circuit controlling devices Il to the part D. namely, that which includes the operative mechanisms'for the valve 2 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive. It may be understood that the main A supplies steam to aw.

group of radiatorsB for maintaining a predetermined temperature atone side or zone of the building and its valve 2 controlled by the thermostat-8i corresponding to the outside temperature conditions prevailing at that side of the building, l5

whereas the steam supplied by the branch pipe or 'riser A' supplies steam to another group of radiators B which, for example, may control the temperature within 4a building adjacent to another exposure; and wherein also the control valve 2a for supplying steam to the branch main A' is controlled' by the thermostat 8|a'corresponding to the outside temperature conditions .prevailing at that side of the building.

In this manner, the two groups of radiators may be sepa-- rately controlled in accordance with the particular requirements in each case, and yet they are receiving theird steam supply from a,V common source. It will be manifest, however, that while said valve mechanisms 2 and 2a are -automatic in orice 4 corresponding to the usual positionof a valve seat. 5 is the valve piece and by means of a valve rod 5 sliding through a stufling box 5a on the valve body, the said valve piece 5 may be ad'-v justed within the valve oriiice 4 by a step by step movement forward or backward, according to requirements. By makingthe step by step movements of short length, the adjustment of the.

valve piece approximates a continuous movement in being shifted within the oriilce 4, but I do not restrict myself as to the length of movement of the increments ofthe step by stepl adjustments thus provided. ,A

I1 is a frame secured to the valve body by four studs I3 and in said frame is joumaled a gear 9,

said gear surrounding the threaded end 1 ofthe' valve rod 5 and carrying within its hub a threaded bushing 8 which is caused to revolve about the threaded end 1 of the valve rod and thus move it longitudinally lforward or backward.`

An arm 2 I, clamped to the valve rod 5 and guided upen one of the studs I8, ,operates to hold the valve rod against rotation while permitting its sonably high speed while the movement imparted.

adjustment longitudinally. The gear 91s driven by a pinion Il secured to a rotatable shaft journaled in the frame |1and carrying at its other end a worm wheel |2 by which it is given a rotary motion. 'Ihe worm wheel I2 is driven;

by a worm I3 secured to a motor shaft I4, which latter is rotated either clockwise or anti-clockwise, respectively, by the motor I5 and I5, which are secured to and carried by the aforesaid frame I1. Itwill be seen that by use of-this speed reducing gearing, the motors may rotate 4at a reato the valve piece and valve rod is relatively slow,

which is as it should be, since variations in theflow through the valve should be caused in'a gradual manner. I'he frame- I1 and the lower studs I8 carry in addition to the parts abovevdescribed, a material portion ofthe selector control -mechanism which is more fullyv shownA in Figs. 3,

l 4, 5 and 6, of the drawings,and whichwill next described.

, Depending from the lower studs I8 by means of clamps 23,1 provide an insulating table I3 upon guide strip an is arranged in alinement with the said contacts 3| l to 31. Similarly, there is a second set of contacts 39 to 45, inclusive, and arranged in alinement therewith there is the dead guide block 46. It will also be observed that the contacts 3| to 31, and their associated guide strip 38, are arranged in the inverse order which exists in respect to the contact blocks 39 to 45, inclusive, and their associated dead guide strip 46.

Arranged upon the bottom of the insulating table vI9 are two guide rods 24 and 24a, the same being clamped in insulating supports 25. These guide rods also act as electrical conductors respectively delivering current to the wires 21 and 28 which are in communication with the motors I5 and I6. These rods 24 and 24a also act as rails for a carriagey comprising two metal tubes 29 and 29a sleeved upon the rods and mechanically clamped or otherwise secured to a connecting body 22 of insulating material, such, for example, as vulcanite fiber.

This carriage is moved along the guide I rods by an extension 23 of the frame 2|, said extension being movable along slot |9a in -the table I9 and engaging socket 0 in the carriage body 22. Clamped respectively upon the tubes 29 and 29a are a plurality of contact carrying blocks 63 and 63a, there being'in the illustration shown seven suclrblocks for each tube. These blocks 63 and 63a may beof metal and of a split construction with clamping screws 6| for clamping them to the tubes (Fig.v 5). The plurality of blocks 63 are respectively provided with yielding contact fingers 41 to 53, which are spring pressed upon the contact blocks 3| to 31 under the influence of the adjusting screws 62. adjustable blocks 63a, clamped to the tube 29, carry yielding contact lingers 54 to 60, which are adapted to be spring pressed upon the contact blocks 39 to 45, inclusive. The position of the carriage 22, 29 and 29a in Figs. 3 and 4, correspond with the position of the parts in Figs. 2`

and 3, and hence the valve piece 5 is fully opened.

Referring to Figs, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the wiring comprises the following features: The contact blocks 3| to 36, inclusive, are inversely connected by cir- Sixnilarly, the

cuits 35 to 10, inclusive, with contact blocks 39 A to 44, inclusive. Contact-block 31 is connected to circuit 19g leading to and connecting with contact block 18 of the thermostatic control mechanlsm 89, (Figs. 6 and 7). Similarly, contact block 45 is connected by circuit 1li-'c withcontact block 1| of the thermostatic control mechanism 39. Furthermore, the circuits 65 to 10 are respectively connected by circuits 10a to 10j, inclusive, with contact blocks 12 to 11, inclusive, of the thermostatic control mechanism 80. It will also be understood that this connection electrically associated contact blocks 12 to 11 of the thermostaticcontrol mechanism respectively with the contact blocks 3| to 36, inclusive,l and 39 to 45, in-

clusive, in pairs, namely, contact block 12, for example, is coupled with contact blocks 3| and 44, and so on, throughout the series of the contact blocks 12 to 11 of the thermostatic control mechanism. l

Referring now to the thermostatic control mechanism shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, I.provide a movable'frame 32 guided upon guide rollers 83 wherebyV it moves parallel tothe line `of theconltact blocks'13 to 18, inclusive,a'nd moreover, is

provided witha spring actuated contact lingerV 34. For convenience, this spring finger 34 is hinged upon the movable frame 82 by means of a yoke 35 and is positioned by a collar 85a clamped in adjusted position upon the frame 82 by a set screw 85h. The tension of the spring nger upon the contacts is secured by an adjusting screw 88 at the rear of the spring nger, all of which will be understood by reference to Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

Any other suitable contacting device, movable with the frame 82, may be employedin lieu of that shown, one such modification being illustrated in Fig. 10, in which the contacting nger 8411s of a rigid construction and the rear portion 84a is provided with elasticity and causes the iinger 84 to yieldingly press upon the contact blocks 1|, etc., of the thermostatic control mechanism. While I have shown the contacts 1| to 18 as of uniformv size and equally spaced apart, it will be understood that this is not essential; and in special cases, these ,contact blocks, employed in association with the thermostatically actuated contact finger, may be spaced otherwise, as for example, in cases Where uneven intervals are desired to provide a diiering ratio to the variations in temperature to which the thermostat is sub- .jected. Y

The movable frame 82 is reciprocated by. a

thermostatic motor device 8|, the same being located at some definite Iplace whose variation in temperature is to be effective in causing the valve device'to be operatively adjusted to respond to changes of atmospheric conditions, such, for example, as in a Asteam heating system (Fig. 11) wherein the supply of steam by the valve 2 to the heating system comprising the steam mains and radiators, is controlled in accordance with variations in temperature of the atmosphere outside of the building, or of any space whose tempera- ,ture is commensurate with outside temperature changes. While I have shown an expansible bellows form of thermostat, this isby Way of example only, as any other well known form of thermostat may be employed for causing movementsof the adjustable frame 82.

Electricity is supplied from sources :c and y, the latter being connected by circuit` 19 with the guides of the movable frame 82 and thereby with the adjustable contact nger 84V of the thermostatic'control mechanism before referred to. The Y other-source :c is in communication with the circuit 26 which is divided and connected with the. two motors I6 and I5 before referred to, the

former of which operates to close the valve 2 and 'tate in one direction when energized by the circuits 26 and 21a, and in the other direction when energized by the circuits 26 and 28a. I, therefore, do `not limit myself to the particular character of motor or motor mechanism for operating the valve piece or other device which is to be ,controlled.

In describing the construction of the contac and contact nger of the thermostatic control apparatus, I have referred to the contact blocks Tl to 18, inclusive, as they are illustrated in Fig. 6, but there may be a slight refinement of' these contact devices as illustrated in Figs. 'I and 8,

wherein therev is interposed between adjacent contact blocksprojecting pins 88 (insulated'or of insulating material) oi!` somewhat'higher elevation than the blocks as shown in Fig. 8, so that the contact nger 84 vis caused to ride free of one block before it makes contact with the next block; and, moreover, in which-the contact 1inger may have a reasonable amount of movement over each block before it snaps over the pin into contact with the next adjacent block, for each step of temperature variation, thereby giving to the device a step by step adjustment for every predetermined change in temperature, such-as 10 temperature intervals, for example. I would point out that while there are only seven steps of adjustment for the entire movement of the thermostatically operated control devices,

, more or less of such steps may be employed, as

preferred. For convenience in coupling up the electrical connections between the various blocks, I would point out that the contact blocks on the thermostatically controlled mechanism are provided with clamping terminals 81, as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9; and inrespect to the contact blocks 3| to 31, inclusive, and 39 to 45, inclusive, clamping terminals are provided as indicated at 64 in Figs. 3 and 5, these being merely refinements of construction.

The operation will now be understood: Assuming that the parts are in the relative positions of adjustment shown and that the valve piece 5 is fully open, such as might be required Where the temperature outside of the building is zero and where a maximum supply of steam is required by the radiators to maintain a temperature of 70 F. within the building, and assuming further, that the outside temperature has risen to a material extent, such as it will be manifest that the thermostatic motor member 8| will expand to a-more or less corresponding extent and move the contact linger 84 from the contact 1| to the contact 12(Fig. 6). It will then follow vthat the current will pass from source over circuit 19, thence through the ilnger 84 to contact 12, thence by circuits 10a and 65 to contact 3|, thence by contact linger 41 to tube 29a of carriage 22, thence by guide rod 24a and circuit 28 to motor I6, and therefrom by circuit 26 to the source of current supply. This causes the'motor |8 to be energized and operate to'move the valve shaft 6 and itsvalve piece 5 in a direction to partly close the valve. 'I'he operation of the motor I6 brings about a movement" of 'the carriage 22 in a direction to the left (Figs. 4 and 6), and to the extent of one block, contact 53 passing on to the insulated or dead guide block 38 and contact 41 leaving block 3| in open circuit and passing on to block 32. At the same time, contact 54 is caused to pass from the insulated or dead guide block 46 to and upon open circuit .block 45. The motor I6 is then brought to rest. If the thermostatic motor element 8| continues to expand under additional rise in outside temperature, the spring contact iinger 84 is moved from block 12 to block 13' and thereby causes the circuit 10b to be energized and supply current by circuit 66 to blocks 32 and 43.` This results in again energizihg the motor I6 and the valve piece 5 is further closed to an extent of another increment and the rcarriage 22 moved an additional step, bringing contact 41 to block 33 and contact 54 to block 44.- vIf now the outside temperature became lowered 10, thermostatic member 8| will contract, and contact finger 84 Iof the `thermostatlcemotor' mechanism 80 will automatically be VI rloved from contact with block 13"laiclr-to.iilocl: 12. The re.

sov

sult of this is to supply current from the source through circuit 19 to contact linger 84, thence by circuit 18a to blocks 3| and 44. Block 9| is in open circuit, but the 'current passing by circuits 18a and 85 is supplied to block 44, thence by contact finger 54, tube 29 of carriage 22, guide rod 24, and circuit 21 to motor I5, and therefrom by circuit 28 to source. The result of this is that motor I5 is put into action to open the valve piece 5 to its original position, and in so doing, impart a corresponding movement to the lcarriage 22 and the contact fingers carried thereby.

It will now be seen that changes of temperature will cause a step by step adjustment in the opening and closing movements of the valve; and that the closing movement of the valve will always take place with an increase in the temperature, and similarly, an opening movement will take place whenever'the temperature is lowered, and these changes may occur at any stage of the opening and closing steps or stages in operating the valve. Precisely the same results may be had by employing a single reversing'motor, Fig. l2, in which rotation in one direction is assured by curr'ent from a circuit 28a (corresponding to circuit 28 in Fig. 6), and rotation in the other direction assured by current from circuit 21a (corresponding to `circuit 21 of Fig. 6).

I have described 4the invention as adapted for automatic regulation or control, but it is not at all necessary to operate under automatic control,

y as will be readily understood from the following explanation. If we assume that the movable frame 82 is disconnected from the thermostatic motor bellows 8|, and be shifted by handit isl manifest that the shifting of the contact-finger 84 over the blocks 1I to 18 will produce a step by step movement in the valve piece 5, whereby it may be opened or 'closed to any extent desired and held at any desired point of adjustment. The

f mechanism provides the essentials'lof a remote f control device forany useful purpose. For'ex- 1 may be employed for operating any mechanism where-a full or fractional movement is required,

"and I, therefore, describe the means shown as an 4 example only and not as a restriction.

.There are; times when it is desirable, in an automatic system, to increase the quantity of heat vreither to the whole building or a zoned portion vtl iereof,.and I ,provide a manually adjustable device for accomplishing this result.

lample, if the set screw 88h is loosened and the collarv 88a, together with the contact flnger 84, is, adjusted along the rods of the movable frame 82 For extothe extent of one or two ofthe contact blocks 1| to 18, and thennclamped in podtion again,

it will be apparent that for any adjustment of`v the contact linger under the influence of the thermostatic motor means .8|, the step by step movement of the valve piece will be continued as before, but with such adjustment Va lesser quantity'of steam will be passed by the valve into thev heating system, and consequently .the building as a whole will be heafedlto a lesser -extent than that formerly required, and suchlesser heating may be to compensate for exceptionally mild weather conditions. Reversely, if Athe weather was 30, for example, and the contact finger 84 was,`under thermostatic action, resting 5 on contact block 14, and more heat was required, either for` the whole building or for zoning purposes, the adjustment of the linger 84 rupon the l movable frame 82 to contact with block 13 would operate to supply more steam to the system than was formerly provided for under thermostatic control. Y n

` An adjustment of this character is especially useful where zoning control of a large building is required by a plurality of separate valve devices regulated by the remote control means of the present application, and wherein said zoning valves receive steam from a common source and are severally utilized to insure the properdistribution of the steam, increasing. or decreasing supply of steam heat on one or more sides of the building due to the nature of exposure.

Another manner of accomplishing these results is to employ an adjustable slide 98 (Figs. 6 and 6a) having contacts 9| thereon which are also terminals of the conducting circuits 18a, '|8b, 18e, 18d, 18e, and 18j, and employ it in cooperation with a plurality of fixed terminals 92 in respective electrical connection with circuits 85, 88, 81, 88, 89 and 18, and wherein the adjustmoved; to the -left so that its contacts 9| arer brought into'communication with the contactsy 92 in such manner that circuit 18a is brought into communication with -circuit 88, then for the operation of 4the, thermostatic motor member 8|, the electric motor I5 will be put under the iniluence of the contact block. 49, with the result' that the valve piece 5-wil1 be closed to a greater extent for a given operation of the thermostatic motor'device 8|; but if, on the other hand, the adjustable slide 98 is moved tothe right, then it is manifest that circuit 18h will be coupled with circuit 88 and. contact block 9|, in which case the electric motor I5 will be energized 'with the result that thel valve piece 5 will be moved to the right and an increasedr quantity of steam admitted through the valve 2 for the normal functioning of the thermostatic motor 8|.

These adjustable devices just described for increasing or decreasing the quantity of the steam supply for any given thermostatic control, Vmay be termeda variator because it permits vary-` ing the maximum steam flow under' automatic regulation. From the foregoing description, it will be evident that I have provided 'means for supplying Y heating fluid to a building to be'heated in proportion to the temperature difference between inside and outside c f the building,and have also.

'centage of the normal amount of heating fluid provided means for selectively varying the perof the adjustable contact device 98, the percentage of the predetermined normal 'amount of be selectively varied.

It will now be apparent that I have 'devised a novel and useful construction lwhich embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable, and while I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give f satisfactory and reliable results, it 'is to be u nderstood that I do not restrict myself to the details as the same are susceptible of'modiiication '10 in various particulars, without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: l. In'an apparatus of the character stated, a building 'to beheated, radiators therefor, steam mainsfor vsupplying steam to said radiators, a

main valve for controlling thel supply of steam' to the mains, and an electrically actuatedpower means for actuating the main valve, combined with a source of electric energy, thermostatlcally 'controlled means for supplying electricity from the source for intermittently putting the electrically actuated power means into'intermlttent action a given number of times during a predetermined range of temperature change, circuits and switch mechanism for supplying and controlling electric current to the p ower means with each change of expansion and contraction of the thero mostatic'member of the thermostatically con- A trolled means and for shuttingmif the supply of electric current with each movement of the electrically actuated power means, and manually con'- trolled means for Vchanging the times of the intermittent operation of the electrically actuated power means with respect to the timesof expansion and contraction 'of the thermostatic member, whereby the number of intermittent actions of the power means may be changed as compared to the given number of thermostatic changes cov- 40 ering the predetermined normalrange ofthe thermostatically controlled means.

2. In an'apparatus of the character stated, a building to be heated, radiators therefor, steam mainsztor supplying steam to said radiators. and

a main valve for controlling the supply of steam tothe mains, in combination with a movable part for actuating` the main valve, thermostatically operated means for imparting to -the movable part and valve an intermittent motion, means operable with the movement of the movable part for arresting the action of the thermostatically operated means after each motion imparted to the movable part, and manually controlled means for changing the number of movements of the movable part as compared to the number of intermittent actions of the thermostatically operated Y separate thermostatically controlled means for,

each of the vseparate control valves, the thermostatic elements of which are respectively arranged `to be subjected to the temperature conditions outside the building adjacent to the respective groups l5 oi' radiators whereby different portions ofthe interior of the buildingv may besheated to substantially the same extent, and pressure reducing means controlled thermostatically by exterior at-` mospheric changes for controlling the pressure -20 and total quantity of heat conveyed from the source to the branch mains.

., 4. In an apparatus of the character stated, 'a 'Y building to be heated, radiators therefor, steam mains-for supplyingsteam to said radiatorsfa 25 mainvalve for controlling the supply of steamto l the mains,l and an electrically actuated power means for controlling the main valve, combined with a sourc of electric energy, thermostatically controlled means for controlling the Supply of 30 electricity -i'romv the source for causing the electrically actuated power means to be put intointermittent action for each of a predetermined unit temperature change, circuits and switch4 mechanism for inversely controlling the supply 35 of electric current tothe electrically actuated means for controllingthe main valve with each unit change in temperature and for` temporarily shutting on? the supply of electric current with each'complete movement of the electrically actu- 40 I ated power means, vand wherein manually controlled means are provided for changing. the time of intermittent operation ofthe electrically actuated power means with respect to vboth the time of expansionand time'of contraction of the ther- 45 mostat of the thermostatically controlled means,

'whereby the number of intermittent operations of the power means may be changed to increase the quantity of steam suppliedwhen the temper'ature on' the thermostatic means is increased, and l reversely; -whereby the number of intermittent operations of Lthe power means may be changed to decrease the 'quantity of steam supplied when the temperature i on theA thermostatic means is decreased. l Y A 56 JOHN- A. 

